"Stop the Clock"
Yes, it has been ages since I wrote on this blog. I promise to do better. I was out of town for a 4 week sabbatical which included my eldest son's wedding in Hawaii, spending time helping my parents in Michigan and spending a week with my husband and the dogs in the Smokey Mountains. That last week in the mountains was amazing. We spent hours walking in the mountains, talking, sharing, praying, reading and writing. It was wonderful. I'll probably share some of the lessons I learned in the mount
ains in the weeks ahead. The first two pictures are of my son and new daughter. The third is of the women in my family: my mother, myself, my daughter Jen and my daughter in law Sol. The last picture is of my husband and the two dogs driving in the mountains. But for today, I just want to share some pictures of my time away, and this word picture from the Lord. I believe it will help you as much as it helped me. Much love...chris
ains in the weeks ahead. The first two pictures are of my son and new daughter. The third is of the women in my family: my mother, myself, my daughter Jen and my daughter in law Sol. The last picture is of my husband and the two dogs driving in the mountains. But for today, I just want to share some pictures of my time away, and this word picture from the Lord. I believe it will help you as much as it helped me. Much love...chrisPicture…I saw a picture of a clock that was ticking away and then suddenly stopped. I asked the Lord, “What’ does this broken clock mean? We have a problem with time don’t we? We just don’t have enough of it. We never have an adequate amount to get everything done that needs to be done.
Hear…the Lord say, “No. I have given to every man the same measure of time. It is sufficient to do everything I have planned for you to do. The amount of time is not the problem. The problem is the way that you think about time. It’s your mindset. You are only looking at things that are present, in the here and now. You are very linear. You think in terms of number of days in a week and number of hours in a day. I want you to look beyond these barriers of time to eternity. Because when you see things from eternity’s perspective, you will have no problems managing your time. You will begin to differentiate between those things that have eternal purpose and those things that have no purpose except to wear you out.”
Consider: So if you have been really concerned about time, or rather the lack of it, you need to stop the clock. Stop looking at timetables, timelines and deadlines. Stop approaching God in a sense of panic, acting like He has only “so much” time to get things done and then…disaster. God is fully aware of the time. He is outside of it and can look back and forward with ease. God knows what is needed and when. He is never late, and never early. Leave it in His hands. Stop trying to get it all done by 5:00 or 10:00 or even 11:00 p.m. Go to God and ask for His help in getting eternity’s perspective. Focus on those things that have lasting value and manage the rest. Here are just a couple of time management tools…
Hear…the Lord say, “No. I have given to every man the same measure of time. It is sufficient to do everything I have planned for you to do. The amount of time is not the problem. The problem is the way that you think about time. It’s your mindset. You are only looking at things that are present, in the here and now. You are very linear. You think in terms of number of days in a week and number of hours in a day. I want you to look beyond these barriers of time to eternity. Because when you see things from eternity’s perspective, you will have no problems managing your time. You will begin to differentiate between those things that have eternal purpose and those things that have no purpose except to wear you out.”
Consider: So if you have been really concerned about time, or rather the lack of it, you need to stop the clock. Stop looking at timetables, timelines and deadlines. Stop approaching God in a sense of panic, acting like He has only “so much” time to get things done and then…disaster. God is fully aware of the time. He is outside of it and can look back and forward with ease. God knows what is needed and when. He is never late, and never early. Leave it in His hands. Stop trying to get it all done by 5:00 or 10:00 or even 11:00 p.m. Go to God and ask for His help in getting eternity’s perspective. Focus on those things that have lasting value and manage the rest. Here are just a couple of time management tools…
· ALLOW TIME IN AND OUT. Consistently effective people turn off the switch, put their feet up and have deliberate time for relaxation.
· CELEBRATE. Whether it is giving thanks, patting yourself on the back or drawing a red line through an accomplishment listed on your daily action sheet, take the time to celebrate. It feels good. It puts gas in your tank and it moves you ahead.
· DO CENTRAL AND ESSENTIAL PRIORITIES NOW. Doing the central priorities now, the important but not urgent things like taking care of your spiritual life and your physical fitness now will take care of big problems later and save time.
· PUT A CUSHION IN YOUR CALENDAR. Allow emergency time before a deadline. It is never going to go as smoothly as you envisioned, so put added time into the equation.
But the most effective time management tool in the world is out of this world. It is giving God your life and allowing Him to manage your schedule according to eternity’s priorities.
Pray: “Lord, as many times as you try to talk to me about this problem I have with time, you would think that I would have really gotten it right by now. But I am coming to you one more time, asking for your help in managing my time. No, that’s not quite it. I am asking you to help me to look at everything through your perspective, through the lens of eternity. For if I can start looking at things from that vantage point I think that managing my time will not be quite so difficult. So each day as I come before you to give you my life and my day, help me to see things with your eyes, before I leave. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
But the most effective time management tool in the world is out of this world. It is giving God your life and allowing Him to manage your schedule according to eternity’s priorities.
Pray: “Lord, as many times as you try to talk to me about this problem I have with time, you would think that I would have really gotten it right by now. But I am coming to you one more time, asking for your help in managing my time. No, that’s not quite it. I am asking you to help me to look at everything through your perspective, through the lens of eternity. For if I can start looking at things from that vantage point I think that managing my time will not be quite so difficult. So each day as I come before you to give you my life and my day, help me to see things with your eyes, before I leave. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
posted by pastorc @ 9:38 AM
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